Kirkland’s Kamiakin Band recognizes outstanding musicians

Carrying the bands through dozens of performances were the outstanding musicians who worked hard to make every performance special.

June 30, 2011 9:35 pm
Kamiakin Junior High students Keegan Taggart
Kamiakin Junior High students Keegan Taggart

Kamiakin Junior High’s band program was busy this year playing at the Kirkland Transit Center’s dedication ceremony, Kirkland’s “Annexation Celebration,” Seattle’s Winterfest, the Northshore Jazz Festival, George Fox University in Oregon and a host of other notable venues.

Carrying the bands through dozens of performances were the outstanding musicians who worked hard to make every performance special. This year’s quarterly certificates went to: Shelby Anderson, clarinet; Zoe Thomas, flute/piccolo; Maxine Beeman, tuba; Emma Lindberg, french horn; Rhys Brewer, french horn; Jovani Azpetia, bass clarinet; Kamden Chew, percussion; Amy Potts, alto saxophone; Sabrina Chau, bassoon; Max Slusher, trumpet; Naomi Vlasin, clarinet; Elena Plenefisch, clarinet; Chloe O’Neill, clarinet; Logan Heine, tenor saxophone; Emily Peterson, vibraphone; Jeremy Harrison, baritone saxophone; Chris Potter, bass.

“Musician of the Year” went to 7th grader Bridget Dahlman-Oeth, flute; 8th grader Jeff Roetcisoender, trumpet; 9th graders Logan Heine, tenor saxophone; Melanie Hynden, alto saxophone and Ben Ellis, trumpet.

The band’s highest honor, “The Director’s Award” went to the school’s fine 9th grade trombonists: Hannah Miller, Jacob Reyes and Keegan Taggart.

Outstanding 5th Grade Musician went to Tali Izhaky, clarinet. Outstanding 6th Grade Musician went to Katie Roetcisoender, clarinet.

Each year, a deserving 6th grade band member is chosen to receive the “Peter Riffe Memorial Scholarship” in tribute to band member Peter Riffe who died in a car accident in 1999. This year’s award was presented to Adrian Goodwin, trombone.

The bands also had the following members accepted to Washington State’s Jr. All-State Band: Ben Hayward, tuba; Emily Peterson, percussion; Abby Bergman, flute; Aimee Richardson, flute; Jeff Roetcisoender, trumpet; Jeremy Harrison, baritone saxophone; Leslie Fisher, flute; Shannon O’Neil, bassoon and Joey Donahue, trumpet. Clarinetist Amy Harger, trombonist Keegan Taggart and Logan Heine, tenor saxophone, were accepted to Washington’s All-State high school band.